Nikon Z7 vs Fujifilm X70

The Nikon Z7 and the Fujifilm X70 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively,
in August 2018 and January 2016. The Z7 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the X70 is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on a full frame (Z7) and an APS-C (X70) sensor. The Nikon has a resolution of 45.4 megapixels, whereas the Fujifilm provides 16 MP. Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their sensors, their features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison: Nikon Z7 vs Fujifilm X70

The physical size and weight of the Nikon Z7 and the Fujifilm X70 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size,
the Fujifilm X70 is considerably smaller (47 percent) than the Nikon Z7. It is worth mentioning in this context that the Z7 is splash and dust resistant,
while the X70 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the X70 has a lens built in,
whereas the Z7 is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup.

The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, just select a new right or left
comparator from among the camera models in the table. Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and
choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The X70 was launched at a lower price than the Z7, despite having a lens built in. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison: Nikon Z7 vs Fujifilm X70

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Nikon Z7 features a full frame sensor and the Fujifilm X70
an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the X70 is 57 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.0 and 1.5. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

With 45.4MP, the Z7 offers a higher
resolution than the X70 (16MP), but the Z7 has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of
4.35μm versus 4.80μm for the X70). However, the Z7 is a somewhat more recent model (by 2 years and 7 months) than the X70, and its sensor
might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The Nikon Z7 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 64 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 32-102400.
The corresponding ISO settings for the Fujifilm X70 are ISO 100 to ISO 6400, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-51200..

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

Camera Model

Sensor Class

Resolution (MP)

Horiz. Pixels

Vert. Pixels

Video Format

DXO Portrait

DXO Landscape

DXO Sports

DXO Overall

Camera Model

Nikon Z7»

Full Frame

45.4

8256

5504

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Nikon Z7

Fujifilm X70«

APS-C

16.0

4896

3264

1080/60p

-

-

-

-

Fujifilm X70

Fujifilm X-E3«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Fujifilm X-E3

Fujifilm X-T20«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Fujifilm X-T20

Fujifilm X-E2S«»

APS-C

16.0

4896

3264

1080/60p

-

-

-

-

Fujifilm X-E2S

Fujifilm X-T10«»

APS-C

16.0

4896

3264

1080/60p

-

-

-

-

Fujifilm X-T10

Fujifilm X-M1«»

APS-C

16.0

4896

3264

1080/30p

-

-

-

-

Fujifilm X-M1

Nikon Z6«»

Full Frame

24.3

6048

4024

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Nikon Z6

Nikon D850«»

Full Frame

45.4

8256

5504

4K/30p

26.4

14.8

2660

100

Nikon D850

Panasonic S1«»

Full Frame

24.0

6000

4000

4K/60p

-

-

-

-

Panasonic S1

Panasonic S1R«»

Full Frame

46.7

8368

5584

4K/60p

-

-

-

-

Panasonic S1R

Sony A7R III«»

Full Frame

42.2

7952

5304

4K/30p

26.0

14.7

3523

100

Sony A7R III

Sony A9«»

Full Frame

24.0

6000

4000

4K/30p

24.9

13.3

3517

92

Sony A9

Sony A99 II«»

Full Frame

42.2

7952

5304

4K/30p

25.4

13.4

2317

92

Sony A99 II

Sony A7R II«»

Full Frame

42.2

7952

5304

4K/30p

26.0

13.9

3434

98

Sony A7R II

Sony A7S II«»

Full Frame

12.0

4240

2832

4K/30p

23.6

13.3

2993

85

Sony A7S II

Sony A99«»

Full Frame

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60p

25.0

14.0

1555

89

Sony A99

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the Z7 provides a higher video resolution than the X70. It can shoot video footage at 4K/30p, while the Fujifilm is limited to 1080/60p.

Feature comparison: Nikon Z7 vs Fujifilm X70

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the Z7 has an electronic viewfinder (3690k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight.
In contrast, the X70 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. That said, the X70 can be equipped with an optional viewfinder – the VF-X21. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Nikon Z7 and Fujifilm X70 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

Camera Model

Viewfinder (Type or '000 dots)

Control Panel (yes/no)

LCD Size (inch)

LCD Resolution ('000 dots)

LCD Attach- ment

Touch Screen (yes/no)

Shutter speed (1/sec)

Shutter flaps (1/sec)

Built-in Flash (yes/no)

Built-in Image Stab

Camera Model

Nikon Z7»

3690

Y

3.2

2100

tilting

Y

8000

9.0

n

Y

Nikon Z7

Fujifilm X70«

-

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

4000

8.0

Y

n

Fujifilm X70

Fujifilm X-E3«»

2360

n

3.0

1040

fixed

Y

4000

8.0

n

n

Fujifilm X-E3

Fujifilm X-T20«»

2360

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

4000

8.0

Y

n

Fujifilm X-T20

Fujifilm X-E2S«»

2360

n

3.0

1040

fixed

n

4000

7.0

Y

n

Fujifilm X-E2S

Fujifilm X-T10«»

2360

n

3.0

920

tilting

n

4000

8.0

Y

n

Fujifilm X-T10

Fujifilm X-M1«»

-

n

3.0

920

tilting

n

4000

5.6

Y

n

Fujifilm X-M1

Nikon Z6«»

3690

Y

3.2

2100

tilting

Y

8000

12.0

n

Y

Nikon Z6

Nikon D850«»

optical

Y

3.2

2359

tilting

Y

8000

9.0

n

n

Nikon D850

Panasonic S1«»

5760

Y

3.2

2100

full-flex

Y

8000

9.0

n

Y

Panasonic S1

Panasonic S1R«»

5760

Y

3.2

2100

full-flex

Y

8000

9.0

n

Y

Panasonic S1R

Sony A7R III«»

3686

n

3.0

1440

tilting

Y

8000

10.0

n

Y

Sony A7R III

Sony A9«»

3686

n

3.0

1440

tilting

Y

8000

20.0

n

Y

Sony A9

Sony A99 II«»

2400

Y

3.0

1229

full-flex

n

8000

12.0

n

Y

Sony A99 II

Sony A7R II«»

2400

n

3.0

1229

tilting

n

8000

5.0

n

Y

Sony A7R II

Sony A7S II«»

2400

n

3.0

1229

tilting

n

8000

5.0

n

Y

Sony A7S II

Sony A99«»

2359

Y

3.0

1229

full-flex

n

8000

6.0

n

Y

Sony A99

One feature that is present on the Z7, but is missing on the X70 is a top-level LCD.
While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

The X70 has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by
vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies. In contrast, the Z7 does not have a selfie-screen.

The reported shutter speed and shutter burst refer to the use of the mechanical shutter. In addition, the X70 features
an electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or
shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Z7 writes its imaging data to XQD cards, while the X70 uses SDXC cards.

Connectivity comparison: Nikon Z7 vs Fujifilm X70

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon Z7 and Fujifilm X70 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

Camera Model

Hotshoe Port

Internal Microphone

Internal Speaker

Microphone Port

Headphone Port

HDMI Port

USB Type

WiFi Support

NFC Support

Bluetooth Support

Camera Model

Nikon Z7»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

3.1

Y

-

Y

Nikon Z7

Fujifilm X70«

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

-

Fujifilm X70

Fujifilm X-E3«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

Y

Fujifilm X-E3

Fujifilm X-T20«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

-

Fujifilm X-T20

Fujifilm X-E2S«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

-

Fujifilm X-E2S

Fujifilm X-T10«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

-

Fujifilm X-T10

Fujifilm X-M1«»

Y

stereo

mono

-

-

mini

2.0

Y

-

-

Fujifilm X-M1

Nikon Z6«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

3.1

Y

-

Y

Nikon Z6

Nikon D850«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

mini

3.0

Y

Y

Y

Nikon D850

Panasonic S1«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

full

3.1

Y

-

Y

Panasonic S1

Panasonic S1R«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

full

3.1

Y

-

Y

Panasonic S1R

Sony A7R III«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

3.1

Y

Y

Y

Sony A7R III

Sony A9«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Sony A9

Sony A99 II«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Sony A99 II

Sony A7R II«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Sony A7R II

Sony A7S II«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Sony A7S II

Sony A99«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Sony A99

The Z7 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Nikon.
In contrast, the X70 has been discontinued (but it can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the X70 was succeeded by the Fujifilm XF10.

Review summary: Nikon Z7 vs Fujifilm X70

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Nikon Z7 and the Fujifilm X70? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

More modern: Reflects 2 years and 7 months of technical progress since the X70 launch.

Advantages of the Fujifilm X70:

More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.

Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.

Ready to shoot: Has an integrated lens, whereas the Z7 necessitates an extra lens.

More compact: Is smaller (113x64mm vs 134x101mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.

Less heavy: Has a lower weight even though it has a lens built in (unlike the Z7).

Easier fill-in: Has a small integrated flash to brighten shadows of backlit subjects.

More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.

More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in January 2016).

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the Z7 is the clear winner of the match-up (19 : 8 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision.

Z7 19:08 X70

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras is instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the Z7 or the X70 handle or perform in practice. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews: Nikon Z7 vs Fujifilm X70

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall rankings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog). The full reviews are available by clicking on the site logo in the table header.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.